Following the announcement of plans for the 1934 England to Australia sponsored by Sir Macpherson Robertson, an Australian design team comprising L J R Jones, T D J Leech and D Saville set about designing and building an aircraft to enter.

The Minicab, which was designed by M Yves Gardan, a well-known French light aircraft designer, made its first flight in February 1949 and, with no major modifications, won three distinctions in its first year; the Coup de Deauville, the Grand Prix Aerien de Vichy, and the Concours d’Elegance de Biarritz.